There's no going back in Zim, declares Mujuru

There's no going back in Zim, declares Mujuru
By Larry Moonze in Havana, Cuba
Friday September 14, 2007 [04:00]

THERE is no going back in Zimbabwe, Vice-President Joyce Mujuru (above) has declared. Speaking when she paid a courtesy call on Cuban foreign affairs minister Felipe Perez Roque on Wednesday, Vice-President Mujuru said as much as the blockade against Zimbabwe was tightening, it was a blessing in disguise because development "is now coming to Zimbabwe."

"Necessity is a mother of invention," Vice-President Mujuru said. "What is happening in Zimbabwe is a result of our demand for our right to our land. There is no going back because land is part of us. Without land we are doomed, there would be no way to put forth the future of the country without the right to land. The women and men of our country are fully behind President Robert Mugabe."

She said in the recent elections, the West, which had already imposed sanctions on Harare thought the ruling ZANU-PF would lose.

"But we won overwhelmingly much to the discomfort of the enemy," Vice-President Mujuru said. She said the most encouraging thing was that the SADC region and the rest of the African Union countries have been on the side of Zimbabwe ever since the imposition of sanctions.

"This is very good for Africa, we must stand in unity," Vice-President Mujuru said. She said she was not surprised that Cuba was well informed about what was going on in Zimbabwe since the island was the chair of the Non-Aligned Movement and also had very warm relations with Harare.

Vice-President Mujuru said right now the Zimbabwean Parliament was debating bill number 18 aimed at combining all elections in that country. She said the ZANU-PF had discovered that Zimbabwe spent productive time running different elections.

Vice-President Mujuru said as of March 2008, presidential, parliamentary, senate and local government elections would be held together. She said in December this year, the ZANU-PF would hold a congress to explain the purposes of that bill to the electorate. Vice-President Mujuru said Zimbabwe would always support Cuba, which is also living under historical, financial and economic sanctions imposed by the US.

She said Zimbabwe understood the position of Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

"We wish President Fidel good health," Vice-President Mujuru said.
She also expressed her sadness on the death of Raul Castro's wife, Vilma.

"Sister Vilma was the mother of the nation," Vice-President Mujuru said.

"But that is what life is. We live today and die tomorrow."

Vice-President Mujuru tabled before Cuba issues regarding assistance in education and malaria programmes. She said Zimbabwe was impressed with the successes Cuba was recording in education and health sectors and that she was happy that the island was ready to share and transfer technology to Zimbabwe.

Vice-President Mujuru said Zimbabwe was battling with problems of animal vaccines and malaria. Cuban foreign minister Perez Roque said Cuba admired and fully supported Zimbabwe's resilience against the unjustifiable sanctions.

He said what was happening in Zimbabwe was blackmail by the West.
"Zimbabwe should not, it should never be in isolation," Perez Roque said.

"Cuba is in support of Zimbabwe in whatever measures your country feel are right to improve the lives of the people and particularly the farmers who were exploited for centuries. We have profound sense of admiration of the endurance of the people of Zimbabwe."
He said Cuba was happy that the African Union was in support of Zimbabwe's struggle for its rights.

Perez Roque said Zimbabwe's endurance against the harsh sanctions was a symbol of a fight for its independence and dignity of Africa.

He said Cuba as chair of the Non-Aligned Movement was within the rights to offer full support to the government and people of Zimbabwe against the prolonged sanctions.

"We are going to renew cooperation in all areas including training of staff, health and by raising international awareness of injustices being committed against Zimbabwe," Perez Roque said.

"We reject these efforts that violate international law and the UN Charter and the purposes and principles defended by the Non-Aligned Movement."

He said Cuba was aware that drought in Zimbabwe in the last farming season had aggravated the situation on the ground.